Trade activity suspended at LoC after alleged drug haul

Islamabad, Feb 7:

Trade activity through the Chakothi checkpost on the Line of Control in Kashmir remained suspended for the second day Saturday after the Indian authorities said they had seized drugs from a truck carrying oranges on the Muzaffarabad-Srinagar road, a media report said.

The Indian authorities also impounded 22 trucks carrying goods from Pakistan. On its part, the Trade and Travel Authority (TATA) of Pakistan-administered Kashmir seized 50 trucks that had come from India, Dawn reported.

TATA officials confirmed the intra-Kashmir trade hiatus and claimed that under the agreement between the two countries, the authorities in Kashmir’s summer capital Srinagar are obliged to return the Pakistani trucks carrying merchandise.

The officials further said that until the Indian authorities provide evidence on the alleged drug smuggling and returned the 22 seized trucks, the 50 trucks held by them will not be permitted to return.

TATA director general Brig Imtiaz (rtd) said that the incident has been brought to the notice of Pakistan’s froreign office and media will be apprised of the latest developments based upon its advice. IANS